Jan. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Iran needs to show that it can play a
positive role in efforts to end the Syrian civil war if it wants
to be included in a peace conference this month, two U.S.
officials said.

Iran could demonstrate that it wants to be helpful through
actions such as pressing the Syrian government to end its
bombardment of Aleppo and to facilitate humanitarian aid
deliveries to rebel-controlled areas, the officials told
reporters traveling with Secretary of State John Kerry today as
he returned from a Mideast trip.

Their comments followed remarks by Kerry yesterday
suggesting Iran could attend a “Geneva II” peace conference,
scheduled for Jan. 22, in a limited capacity, even though the
Islamic Republic hasn’t accepted the 2012 communique underlying
the long-delayed talks.

The officials, who asked not to be identified discussing
sensitive diplomacy, said it remains unlikely that Iran will be
included in the peace talks in any role.

The U.S. has criticized Iran for propping up the regime of
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with cash and weapons. Kerry
indicated at a news conference in Jerusalem yesterday that it
would be up to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to
decide on an Iranian role in the talks in Switzerland.

“Now, could they contribute from the sidelines?” Kerry
said. “It may be that that could happen, but that has to be
determined by the secretary general and it has to be determined
by Iranian intentions themselves.”

Ban’s Invitations

While Iran wasn’t included in a list of nations invited to
the talks by Ban today, its possible participation will be
discussed by Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in
a meeting on Jan. 13, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told
reporters in New York.

The communique produced in Geneva in 2012 calls for a
transition government “by mutual consent,” which the U.S. and
the Syrian opposition interpret as meaning it would exclude
Assad. The Syrian government and its ally Russia dispute that
interpretation. The U.S. has previously opposed Iran’s
participation in the talks unless it accepts the agreement,
which would essentially mean abandoning its ally Assad.

Iran rejected Kerry’s conditions for a role in the talks.

Iran’s Response

“In order to take part in the Geneva II conference, the
Islamic Republic of Iran will not accept any proposal which does
not respect its dignity,” said Marzieh Afkham, a spokeswoman
for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, according to PressTV.

The comments by the two U.S. officials were intended to
clarify the U.S. position after Kerry’s remarks. Even accepting
the Geneva communique wouldn’t automatically lead to Iran’s
invitation because other nations oppose its involvement, they
said. Shiite Iran is seen by the predominantly Sunni Syrian
rebels and their Sunni allies, including the Arab states of the
Persian Gulf, as both a regional and sectarian enemy.

Ban previously has said he favors including Iran in the
talks as an important regional power. The talks are to be
convened under UN authority by Ban and his special envoy Lakhdar
Brahimi. Russia has backed Iran’s participation.